In 2016, following robust community engagement, the NHLBI released its first Strategic Vision — a document that charted the course for scientific discovery in heart, lung, blood, and sleep research over the next decade.
The 130 Research Priorities outlined in that Strategic Vision guided NHLBI's efforts between January 2016 and August 2024 to advance four strategic goals: to understand human biology, reduce human disease, develop the workforce and resources, and advance translational research.
To progress toward those goals, the Institute solicited dozens of research funding applications through a special funding opportunity called Requests for Applications (RFAs). Many notable projects received funding through these RFAs, resulting in scientific discoveries by researchers and institutions that have been detailed in numerous scientific publications. In fact, several of the innovations now have patent registrations.
To help visualize the impact of this progress, a graphic using publicly available data has been created to highlight a few areas of scientific advances that cut across heart, lung, blood, and sleep research.
Explore through data visualization the impact of research projects funded through many NHLBI RFAs since 2016.
And then learn more about research RFA-funded projects related to the following topic areas:
- Data Science and Precision Medicine
- Data science plays a pivotal role in advancing precision medicine, as it harnesses large amounts of health data to tailor treatments to individual patients. Healthcare providers can use data science to analyze genetic information, patient histories, and other patient related data to find patterns and predict health outcomes. This means that healthcare providers can better diagnose and provide appropriate treatments, leading to better treatment results and fewer side effects.
- Early Translation
- Early translation is essential for quickly turning scientific discoveries into available treatments. This process helps bring new therapies and technologies to patients faster, improving care and treatment options. Advancing early translation, researchers and healthcare providers can bridge the gap between research and everyday patient care, ensuring that new innovations benefit patients sooner and more effectively.
- Implementation Science
- Implementation science studies how to effectively bring research findings into practice and ensures they are adopted for use by the people who need them. This field helps identify the best ways to introduce new methods, overcome barriers, and adapt practices to different settings. By focusing on how to implement and sustain novel approaches to health care, implementation science ensures that proven treatments improve patient care and health outcomes in real-world settings.
- Health Disparities
- Health disparities refer to the difference in health outcomes and access to healthcare that exist among various population groups. These disparities often arise due to factors such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, geographic location, and systemic inequalities within the healthcare system. By identifying and understanding the root causes of health disparities, NHLBI aims to develop strategies that promote equitable healthcare access and improve health outcomes for all individuals.
- Technology
- New technologies play a vital role in advancing healthcare by improving how we diagnose, treat, and manage disease. These innovations — such as advanced imaging tools, wearable health monitors, and digital health records — provide insightful research data that can be used to produce more accurate and personalized care. By integrating the latest technologies into healthcare, we can enhance the quality of care and increase efficiency, which can ultimately lead to better health outcomes for everyone.
Open the RFA Funded Research Chart in a new window — Mobile-friendly version
The data used to produce this visualization - including specific RFA announcements, funded projects, publications, and patents - can be found at grants.nih.gov and reporter.nih.gov. Topics identified in RFAs are not exclusive; for example, a single RFA may fund research related to both data science and technology. The sums of individual subset metrics may be greater than the total of that metric. Not all RFA topics are represented in the above visualization.